Guest 682- Registered: 19 Jan 2009
- Posts: 146
11 February 2011
14:1392310#1
Over the weekend I should be able to bring you up to date with all these and possibly one or two more that I have been working on over the past couple weeks.
Must dash now as I've got to meet a man about a road.
11 February 2011
16:4592325#2
Up to date with these in what context?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
11 February 2011
19:0992333#3
diana
kent county council have proposed removing many barriers as a cost cutting measure in these cash strapped times.
nigel as one of our representatives at maidstone is personally looking at each one to assess how important to safety they are, then he can argue our case.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
12 February 2011
09:1192370#4
The safety barriers and safety rails fulfill a major safety role as we have said before. For all pedestrians but particularly kids. Im sure some have been removed from the dangerous crossing at the Townwall St/ Maison Dieu intersection....outside the swimming pool. You stand there hugely vulnerable in the centre of the carriageway waiting for the lights to change while the traffic hurls by at considerable speed just inches from your head. One slight distraction from a drivers mobile phone and everything in the centre of road will be demolished there including pedestrians. Even now as I write a pole or signpost has been knocked askew there.... but of course thats just one place.
There are many Im sure.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
12 February 2011
10:1392376#5
i thought that the other day whilst waiting to cross, it did seem that there were less barriers than before.
Guest 682- Registered: 19 Jan 2009
- Posts: 146
13 February 2011
12:4592485#6
Paul - those railings are the responsibility of the Highways Agency and not Kent Highway Services - they are staying whatever.
Where's that Howard as to my knowledge there have been no changes?
Anyway back to the thread.
I have advised on the railings on the other thread as there were some allegations as to the way I have been working on it being made by one of my opposition friends possibly due to the fact that I act first and tell later.
Apart from having Kent Highway Services and their consultants, Jacobs, to town and walked around looking constructively at all 19 railing sites where they have suggested 'changes' I was also seen walking through the town with another officer from Kent Highways looking at the cobbles.
You will remember the question I asked on this very forum about the cobbles and the conclusion seemed to be that they were extremely pleasant on the eye but gave problems to people with wlaking difficulties, in wheelchairs or pushing buggies. We looked at all sites and apparently there is a new product that could possibly be used that would keep the appearance and make the cobbles easier to walk on - they are getting back to me.
Another little walk I had during this week was with the Contract Director from Balfour Beatty Mott MacDonald who are the consultants to the Highways Agency and others regarding the A20, the A2 and indeed the A20 underpass.
The lighting in the underpass has been 'playing games' for some months and we are at last getting somewhere following a number of visits from electricians over the past few weeks - they will be back very soon and then hopefully the lighting will be working OK but there is, as has there has always been, a number that will not working during the daytime.
More seriously the underpass has been flooded during period of heavy rain recently - they have now got the pump working again - pump needed as underpass is below the river level - but it is possibly not working well enough. Following our site visit, the gullies will be cleared better to see if this will help and more work will be done if required.
We also walked along parts of the A20 through Dover looking at the signs, road markings, posts (including that Paul mentions above), manhole covers and the general condition of the road surface - they have taken all these points away - some for action and some for investigation for action.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
13 February 2011
14:2392493#7
just an impression i got nigel at the townwall street/maison dieu junction.
good to hear that there hasn't been any removals.
Guest 682- Registered: 19 Jan 2009
- Posts: 146
15 February 2011
10:3892711#8
Thanks Howard.
As a follow up - yesterday I met with the new Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways & Waste at KCC and his Managing Director plus the Director for Highways on the railings issue and was again assured that the issue will come before the Dover Joint Transportation Board.